News


A Clear Vision of the Past Unfolds This Week in the Gem Store
05. November 2024 um 17:00 Uhr

Familiar clockwork turns into a skyscale, Foefire memories remain, and a visionary cape brings it all together!

Read More

    Steamwork Skyscale Skin

    This skyscale skin was designed by someone clearly influenced by Scarlet Briar’s clockwork designs, or at least someone who pillaged her workshop for spare parts! The ingenuity of Scarlet’s work has not been forgotten. The Steamwork Skyscale Skin is available now for 1,600 gems.

    A female human sits on top of a clockwork skyscale. The skyscale is dark gray and black and has bright green gems embedded in it in various places.

    Black Lion Chest Update: Shadowed Eye

    Inside each chest, you’re guaranteed to find a redeemable Black Lion Statuette, Mini Blue Cuckoo Hatchling, and two common items. You also have a chance to find something rarer in the fifth slot, including special items, glyphs, and skins from the Paladin’s Decree Weapon Collection and the Venombite Weapon Collection. Don’t forget you can redeem Black Lion Statuettes for past items from Black Lion Chests you may have missed!

    Exclusive Item: Mystic Visionary Cape

    Visions of other worlds cloud your mind. This mantle ushers you through timelines converging—witness the universe through the eyes of time. The Mystic Visionary Cape is a new, exclusive drop from Black Lion Chests.

    A human stands facing away in the desert. She wears a dark cloak with gold details and a magic green effect on the bottom. At the top of the cloak, a magical golden eye looks around.

    Foefire Weapon Collection

    The spirit of the Foefire rages within these weapons. Memories of blue flames guide your hand into the heat of battle. Each Foefire weapon skin can be obtained in exchange for 1 Black Lion Claim Ticket.

    A charr and an asura hold Foefire weapons. They are metal with blue wrappings with bright glowing runes on them.

    What’s in Stock

    Starting November 8 and continuing for the next few days, select dye kits will be 20% off, including the Smooth Berry Dye Kit, Charr Dye Kit, Norn Dye Kit, Lion’s Arch Commemorative Dye Kit, Aurene Dye Kit, Jade Dye Kit, Lion’s Arch Survivors Dye Kit, Kralkatorrik Dye Kit, Mordremoth Dye Kit, and Vibrant Dye Kit.

    Returning This Week

    If you’re a fan of an organized account, this is for you! From today until November 12, Shared Inventory Slots are at an incredible 20% discount.

  • Available Now in the Gem Store!

    Log into Guild Wars 2 and press 'O' to access the Black Lion Trading Company for these great offers and more!

Weniger anzeigen...

The Journey of the Warclaw: From Concept to Game Changer
30. Oktober 2024 um 16:00 Uhr

From World vs. World to Wilds: How the Warclaw Leapt into Tyria's Heart!

Read More

The warclaw mount has long been a favorite in the World vs. World (WvW) community, but with its recent revamp, this agile mount now roams the open world, thanks to the release of Guild Wars 2®: Janthir Wilds™. What started as a support-focused mount has evolved into a fast, versatile companion for exploring all of Tyria. Today, we’ll give you an inside look at how the warclaw made its leap from WvW exclusivity to open-world adventure (with some help from some feline friends, no less).

Multiple warclaw and their riders.

A Shift in Design

When the warclaw mount was first developed, the goal was to create a utility-based mount that provided a tactical advantage in World vs. World. While it served its purpose well in that game mode, as player feedback came in, the team’s vision began to evolve. Over time, as we refined our approach to mount design—especially with the success of the skyscale in Guild Wars 2: Secrets of the Obscure™—we saw an opportunity to do something similar for the warclaw in Guild Wars 2: Janthir Wilds.

Looking at the warclaw, we noticed it was underutilized and had the potential for significant expansion and improvement. We started exploring how the warclaw could navigate the open world of Tyria; the idea was that it would no longer be confined to WvW battlefields, becoming a key tool for players in dynamic events and pivotal story moments in Guild Wars 2: Janthir Wilds.

a warclaw rears up to pounce on a giant bee

Leaping into Player vs Environment (PvE)

Several factors were crucial in making the warclaw’s transition into PvE a reality. The success of the skyscale and the lessons we learned from its implementation in Guild Wars 2: Secrets of the Obscure gave us valuable insight into how to repurpose existing mounts for new content. We took the base mechanics of the warclaw and, with feedback from multiple teams and the community, identified its growth opportunities and weaknesses. And of course, we can’t overlook the influence that cats—our internet-favorite feline friends—had in shaping the warclaw’s personality and movement. Who would turn down studying cats at work?

The main goal of revamping the warclaw mount was to make it feel like a living part of Tyria’s world. We wanted to create a mount that had a lot of personality and was fun to move around the world on, while also helping players on their own journey. We leaned into capturing the essence of a cat’s playful nature and incorporated feline behaviors into the mount’s design. Watching how cats sneak, pounce, and explore places they shouldn’t be in gave us the ability to make a mount that feels not only functional, but also full of personality.

As such, the warclaw was crafted to be the premier mount for Guild Wars 2: Janthir Wilds, offering a versatile, all-around experience. Unlike other mounts, which often excel in specific areas, the warclaw was designed to be more of a generalist. It features a dash, but not one as powerful as the raptor’s. It can go vertical, but not leap as high as the springer. It’s fast, though not as quick as the roller beetle. And while it can navigate aerial spaces, it’s not as adept as the skyscale. While the team didn’t set out to make a jack-of-all-trades mount, that’s exactly where the design landed, and the result is an incredibly fun and adaptable mount for a variety of situations.

Given that the warclaw’s movement was inspired by the mischievous nature of cats, it also made sense to grant it no fall damage. Guild Wars 2: Janthir Wilds has a lot of verticality, and this feature makes the warclaw a great choice for navigating dangerous drops. Just don’t go testing your poor warclaw’s limits too much!

Three adventurers hold baskets with journeykin warclaw pups in them

Overcoming Design Challenges: The Double-Jump Dilemma

Designing the warclaw came with its fair share of challenges, and one of the trickiest was perfecting its abilities—especially the fan-favorite double jump. There was a series of prototypes and iterations, each refining the mount’s abilities to match both the team’s vision and player feedback. Using the ability in various environments and increasing its speed and turn rate to test how it performed was crucial in getting the warclaw to feel just right in a PvE setting.

The real breakthrough, however, came when the team decided to embrace the playful, exploratory nature of cats. Their instinct to sneak into places they shouldn’t be served as inspiration for the mount’s double jump and fluid movements. Never underestimate the power of researching cats!

In the spirit of transparency, we have to admit that, while cats played a big part in the design process, so did a bug we encountered early on. This bug allowed players to leap higher each time they connected with the ground, causing each jump to get progressively higher. While it wasn’t intended, it sparked the idea to explore different jumping concepts. After several iterations, the team settled on the double-jump mechanic because it was both practical and easier for players to control. Of all the versions tested, it was also the most fun, capturing the core goal of warclaw’s design and bringing the pure joy of movement to the mount.

A warclaw in the beautiful environment of the Janthir Wilds.

A New Standard for Mounts

In the end, the warclaw transformation is a testament to the power of player feedback and the collaborative spirit of the development team. The transformation from an underutilized mount to one of the community’s most beloved companions has been very rewarding for the Guild Wars 2: Janthir Wilds team. Experiencing the joy of movement is what makes a mount truly special, and whether you’re tearing across the WvW battlefield or leaping across Tyria’s vast landscapes, the warclaw is there to make every journey a little more thrilling. Just don’t forget to visit your feline friend in your homestead from time to time for scritches!

Weiterlesen...

Help Change Kids’ Health with Our 2024 Extra Life Bundle
29. Oktober 2024 um 16:00 Uhr

New rewards have arrived, with proceeds going to Extra Life!

Read More

    Extra Life 2024 Donation Bundle

    Join us this year in making the world a better place! Purchase the Extra Life 2024 Bundle and receive cool in-game goodies while donating to an amazing cause.

    This incredible bundle contains five Extra Life Karma Boosters, five Temporary Selfless Potions, and the all-new Guardian Angel Pedestal Chair. Purchasing any of these items will also grant you the in-game title “The Extra Life” in blue text. The Extra Life 2024 Donation Bundle is available for 800 gems. The Extra Life Karma Boosters can be obtained separately for 75 gems each or 275 gems for 10 boosters, with all proceeds going to Extra Life.

    To thank our generous donors, once we reach our stretch goal of $105,000 in direct donations on the Team ArenaNet Extra Life page, anyone who purchased any Extra Life item in the Gem Store will automatically receive two special selection boxes to choose fan-favorite rewards from past events. Select the Feisty Feline Tonic, Mini Mr. Sparkles, Celebration Hat, or ten Kegs of Liquid Karma.

    Visit our Extra Life campaign page Team ArenaNet and help us reach our stretch goal of $105,000 in direct donations this year. And please check out our Extra Life blog for more information about our upcoming 24-hour livestream on November 1.

    We sincerely thank our community for always joining us for this incredibly rewarding event.

    A female asura stands in front of a star-filled night sky on a marble pillar with the Extra Life logo floating above.

    What’s in Stock

    Starting November 1 and continuing for the next few days, select unique chairs will be 20% off, including the Dark Wing Throne, Great Lodge Chair, Legionnaire’s Chair, Qi Focusing Chair, Super Adventure Box Chair, Volcanic Throne, Street Noodles Chair, and Quiet Woods Chair. Long days of adventuring call for rest and relaxation; get your favorite chairs at an awesome discount!

    Returning This Week

    From today until November 5, Bank Tab Expansions, Armistice Bastion Pass, Lava Lounge Pass, Mistlock Sanctuary Passkey, Noble’s Folly Pass, Royal Terrace Pass, Thousand Seas Pavilion Pass, and Captain’s Airship Pass are available at a wonderful 20% discount. Easy access to everything you need!

  • Available Now in the Gem Store!

    Log into Guild Wars 2 and press 'O' to access the Black Lion Trading Company for these great offers and more!

Weiterlesen...

Designing World Bosses in Guild Wars 2: Janthir Wilds
23. Oktober 2024 um 16:00 Uhr

Read stories from our Encounters team about designing the titans and the Bog Queen!

Read More

Creating large-scale open world events in Guild Wars 2® is no easy task, and when the challenge involves bringing iconic titans back into the game for the first time since the original Guild Wars®, the stakes get even higher. Today, our designers Travis Battig, Peter Larkin, Matthew Burke, and Brian Gilmore share some behind-the-scenes stories about the creation of the new titans and another community-favorite world boss from Guild Wars 2: Janthir Wilds™. From technical breakthroughs to design philosophy, their journey is one of balancing ambition with careful, thoughtful iteration.

A rocky titan, Decima, emits red energy from its body as it battles against heroes of Tyria.

Finding Balance in Open World Event Design: Travis’s Vision

When designing open world events, there’s always the desire to do more, to make it harder, and to delight players with something bigger and more complex than what they’ve seen before. However, as it goes with every studio and project, we need to find ways to push ourselves while operating within our constraints. After a great deal of iteration on what the full experience would be, we decided it was best to allow the titans themselves to carry this world boss encounter—after all, this is their first appearance since the original Guild Wars.

We had decided early on to make Decima and Greer a world boss encounter instead of a meta-event. We also wanted to incorporate our reworked warclaw mount’s mechanics into the design by having them be the solution to the titans’ hardened armor. Early prototypes included porting over existing WvW door functionality onto a creature, armor gadgets we attached to a karka rig, and a dynamic race-gate placement. Ultimately, we arrived at the experience that’s in the game: tripping the titan with your warclaw to make it break its own armor under its weight. When either titan is knocked over, their armor is shattered, revealing their inner core. As an homage to titans in Guild Wars, the resulting destruction generates titanspawn for players to defeat.

Concept art depicting a gigantic, jagged rock monster with spots of green energy, towering over a kodan.

Breathing Life into Decima: Peter’s Design Goals

The early concept art for Decima was inspiring, and the idea that she would use conduits in some way struck a chord. As a titan, she incorporates elements of her environment to form thick, rocky armor made of crystalline structures reminiscent of pyrite.

As the Stormsinger, her conduits allow her to manipulate the weather by generating and storing large amounts of arcane flux, a hybrid of air-attuned and raw arcane magic. Decima’s rocky, hefty appearance isn’t what you’d expect from a creature capable of generating and manipulating storms, wind, and lightning. This dichotomy was fun to work with and informed much of her design, especially her love of squashing things!

A key aspect of Decima’s design is her massive beam attacks that fire from the conduit built into her left arm. However, matching visual effects to rectangular attacks of arbitrary length is tricky. Decima is so large that her beam attacks couldn’t shoot directly from her arm, as they’d be too high up and off-center. To solve this, we used an invisible creature to act as an anchor for the beam attack, allowing the system to dynamically scale the beams to almost any length. This will become much more relevant in the upcoming raid!

Concept art depicting a colossal wooden monster with spots of yellow energy, towering over fleeing kodan.

Making Greer Distinct: Brian’s Creative Process

With Greer, the titan of rot, our goal was to embody the theme of “decay without life” throughout the encounter. Greer’s ideal world would be what you would find underneath a kicked over log—rot without regrowth. A key aspect of Greer is his ability to corrupt boons, a mechanic usually not found in open world content, which adds a new layer of complexity for players in the PvE setting. Having a world boss that uses a player’s own strengths against them encourages different builds and strategies, such as utilizing abilities that can cleanse conditions.

With the titans, we also introduced mechanics to the open world that were more commonly seen in strikes and raids. For example, to avoid Greer’s rot eruption, three players have to stack up in the same spot, or decaying thorns will burst up from the ground and impale them. Earlier versions of this attack would simply target the players who were furthest from Greer, and while that did keep ranged players on their toes, it left no room for counterplay. In the end, Eruption of Rot evolved from an attack that harassed ranged characters into one that needed to—and could be—countered by player action.

We also wanted to make sure Greer and Decima felt different to overcome while sharing some similarities. Both have hardened armor and generate titanspawn when it’s broken, but while Decima is more of a dance of death, Greer is more of a stand-up brawl. We can’t wait for players to experience how Greer’s titan-splitting mechanic evolves in the new raid coming soon!

a grotesque hag with long dirty black hair thrusts her weapon forward while green swamp magic swirls around her

Rise of the Bog Queen: Burke’s Design Journey

When we began research for Guild Wars 2: Janthir Wilds, we stumbled upon bog bodies and used them as a point of inspiration. Bog bodies are basically mummies preserved in peat bogs, and we decided they would be reanimated due to the maggots infesting them.

The event chain started with the idea that you would be running around and squishing the maggots while riding on the warclaw. After several iterations, it evolved to requiring the players to dash through the maggots to stop them, which was more interactive. Once that system was ready, our attention shifted to designing the source of these maggots—enter the Bog Queen.

To bring the Bog Queen to life, we started with the Risen Priestess of Lyssa model, which hadn’t been used much. Our Character Art Lead, Adam, did an amazing job updating and altering the design into the creepy visage you see in the game. We also upgraded her animations, which allowed her to hover as she commands her army of maggots and bog bodies.

the bog queen stands with her back to us as she looks over the swamp she rules over

From there, we wrote some voice lines for her summoning poem, like, “Squirm and infest; rot and decay. Find a new home, all soft and warm. It’s time to join my jubilant swarm!” Then our narrative lead, Indigo, fleshed out an incredible backstory for her with the help of some other talented contributors. We won’t spoil anything, but be sure to poke around Janthir Syntri if you want the full story.

We also played around with the idea of having the Bog Queen sing her voice lines during the maggot summoning but ended up deciding against that in the end. Patty Mattson, who also voiced Peitha, absolutely crushed it performing as the Bog Queen. We love giving her nine-feet-tall monsters to play!

Overall, the whole team really rallied around the Bog Queen, and we are delighted to see that she’s become a favorite of the Guild Wars 2 community. She wouldn’t be the success she is without everyone working together to make it happen. Shoutouts to our map artists, design leads, QA, and the music team—the “Queen of Murk” track is unbelievable!

The rot titan, Greer, emite pink energy towards a bloodstone as a battle ensues in rainy Janthir Syntri

Looking Ahead

Whether you’re facing off against the corruption of Greer, battling Decima’s lightning strikes, or dashing through maggots in Janthir Wilds, these encounters are designed to engage players in fresh, exciting ways. Each of these bosses represents the culmination of months of collaboration and creativity, and we were thrilled to watch the community’s reaction to them when the expansion launched. We’re equally excited for players to experience our upcoming raid and Convergences bosses in our first major update to Guild Wars 2: Janthir Wilds in November. We’ll see you then!

Weiterlesen...

Achieve Tranquility with the Meditative Garden Homestead Package
22. Oktober 2024 um 16:00 Uhr

We have a new outfit and glider to fit your style needs as well!

Read More

    Let your mind relax to one hour of melodic music, calming sounds, and tranquil visuals inspired by our Meditative Garden Homestead Package.

    Meditative Garden Homestead Package

    Adventuring is exhausting! Every new conflict can take its toll on your spirit—but with this package, you can begin building your peaceful garden. Care for the little piece of heaven that keeps your mind tranquil and your heart at peace.

    This package is available for 800 gems and contains the following items:

    • Meditative Bamboo Fountain
    • Meditative Bamboo Fence
    • Meditative Long Bamboo Fence
    • Meditative Lucky Rock
    • Meditative Favored Rock
    • Meditative Sand Circle
    • Meditative Sand Lines
    • Meditative Stone Lantern
    • Meditative Windswept Tree

    You’ll receive one of each homestead decoration and permanently unlock the recipe to craft more inside your homestead!

    A peacful and tranquil homestead decorated with bamboo fences, rocks, trees, lanterns, and sand circles from the Meditative Garden Homestead Package.

    Spirit Silk Appearance Pack

    Manifest your elegance with this lovely attire. The Alluring Silk Outfit is a captivating ensemble with its low neckline and classic silky beauty. Make sure to pair your new garment with a flowing scarf graced by air magic. You will embody ethereal charm.

    The Spirit Silk Appearance Pack is available for 1,800 gems and contains the Alluring Silk Outfit, the Flowing Silk Backpack and Glider Combo, a Mystical Beast Weapon Choice, and a Total Makeover Kit. The outfit and the backpack and glider combo can be obtained separately for 700 gems each.

    What’s in Stock

    Starting October 25 and continuing for the next few days, select unique weapon skins will be 20% off, including the Gilded Stratus Longbow Skin, the Devil-Rending Dagger Skin, the Synergetics Energized Shield Skin, the Queensdale Academy Wand Set, and many more. Fight new and old foes with some of the coolest weapons in Tyria!

    Returning This Week

    From today until October 29, Material Storage Expanders, Recharging Teleport to Friend, Black Lion Garden Plot Deeds, and select Black Lion Contract Boards are available at a sweet 20% discount. Be sure to get what you need!

    Male and female characters wearing ornate, flowing robes, with a silk ribbon trailing behind them.

  • Available Now in the Gem Store!

    Log into Guild Wars 2 and press 'O' to access the Black Lion Trading Company for these great offers and more!

Weiterlesen...

Team ArenaNet for Extra Life 2024
16. Oktober 2024 um 16:00 Uhr

Team up with the Guild Wars 2 community to help support Children's Miracle Network Hospitals!

Read More

Since 2017, ArenaNet has proudly partnered with Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals through the annual Extra Life gaming marathon, and we’re thrilled to keep the tradition going strong! On Friday, November 1, starting at 12:00 p.m. Pacific Time (UTC-7) we’ll be kicking off 24 hours of gaming and fundraising, rallying our amazing community to help support this incredible cause. Join us for a memorable event that makes a real difference!

What is Extra Life?

the extra life logo featuring a game controller with a halo and angel wings

Extra Life unites gamers from across the globe to stream for 24 hours, all in the name of raising money for Children’s Miracle Network hospitals. These 170 nonprofit children’s hospitals throughout the US and Canada help critically ill and injured children by covering healthcare costs, purchasing essential medical equipment, and funding vital research. Thanks to events like Extra Life, they’re able to provide 38 million patient visits to 12 million children annually.

Over the years, Team ArenaNet—with the help of you, the community—has raised more than ONE MILLION dollars in donations for this cause, and on November 1, we’ll be aiming to push that total even higher.

Donation Mission: Champions of the Children

Log in to Guild Wars 2® between October 29 and November 19 to receive the title “The Extra Life” if you didn’t unlock it in previous years.

A special enhancement effect will also be available in game:

  • +5% magic find
  • +5% experience from all sources
  • +3% WvW reward track progress
  • +3% PvP reward track progress

The effect will gain another stack for every $10,000 USD in direct donations to Team ArenaNet. To activate new stacks of the enhancement effect and view hourly donation total updates, just visit the city of Lion’s Arch after you log in to Guild Wars 2.

The 2024 Extra Life Donation Bundle will be available in the gem store from October 29 until November 19. The bundle contains five Extra Life Karma Boosters, five Temporary Selfless Potions, and the all-new Guardian Angel Pedestal Chair. Players can also purchase additional Extra Life Karma Boosters separately. Purchasing any of these items will also grant you the in-game title “The Extra Life” in blue text. We’ll donate all proceeds from purchases of these items to Extra Life.

As always, when we reach $25,000 in direct donations to Team ArenaNet, ArenaNet will match that amount, instantly doubling our impact to $50,000!

A hero from Tyria stands on a marble pillar with the Extra Life logo above them.

For this year’s Extra Life event, we’re also setting a stretch goal of $105,000 in direct donations to Team ArenaNet to make an even bigger impact. To thank our generous donors, once we hit this goal, those who contributed will receive two special selection boxes which feature fan-favorite rewards from past events. Select the Feisty Feline tonic, Mini Mr. Sparkles, Celebration Hat, or ten Kegs of Liquid Karma.

Spicing Things Up for Extra Life 2024!

This year, we kicked off our Extra Life fundraising efforts with a spicy twist! For those who don’t know, ArenaNet’s studio head, Colin Johanson, is a huge fan of tacos and hot sauce. Inspired by this, one of our staff took it upon himself to organize the ultimate prank…for charity! At our Guild Wars 2 studio summit in September, team members who donated to our Extra Life campaign received a bottle of hot sauce. Then, during our Janthir Wilds launch party, over 200 bottles were presented to Colin one by one! We raised over $1,100, giving our Extra Life 2024 goal a nice head start—and Colin now has an impressive hot sauce collection!

How to Join Team ArenaNet

The words Team ArenaNet appears with the ArenaNet logo and Extra Life logo.

Want to get involved? It’s easy to join Team ArenaNet! Visit our team page and select Join Our Team.

Prefer to create your own team? No problem! You can still be part of the ArenaNet Super Team by choosing “Create a Sub Team” when signing up. You’ll have your own page and goals, but your efforts will also contribute to our overall fundraising total.

You don’t need to stream Guild Wars 2 to participate—any game will do! Or, if streaming isn’t your thing, help us spread the word and encourage friends, family, and coworkers to donate.

We’re so grateful for your ongoing support, and we can’t wait to come together once again on November 1 to make a difference!

Weiterlesen...

Shadow of the Mad King 2024 Is Now Live!
15. Oktober 2024 um 16:01 Uhr

Mystery, mayhem, and loot.

Read More

Get ready, brave souls, because the Shadow of the Mad King festival has officially returned, and this year’s haunting begins today! Log in now for spine-chilling thrills, eerie adventures, and a host of new tricks and treats waiting to be uncovered. You’ll have until November 5 to indulge in all the fiendish fun—so sharpen your wits and prepare to devour candy corn by the handful. Let’s descend into the madness, shall we?

New for 2024!

It’s time to go trick-or-treating! You can earn daily and weekly achievements by ringing a Haunted Bell in another player’s homestead or guild hall. Each visit rewards you with bonus trick-or-treat bags, so make sure to stop by and enjoy some festive fun!

Get ready to deck out your homestead in spooky style! This Halloween season, we’re introducing brand-new decorations that will bring all the eerie vibes to your space. From the new Antique Bell and Haunted Bell to the Gargoyle and Flame-Bearing Gargoyle, you’ll have everything you need to transform your homestead into the ultimate haunted haven.

Whether you’re hosting friends or just setting the mood for trick-or-treaters, these new decorations will make your place the most frightful stop this Halloween!
Guild hall decorations from past years’ Shadow of the Mad King festivals will also be available to purchase in the form of Homestead Recipe Book: Halloween, volumes 1–9. Make sure to talk to the homestead vendor, Deft Lahar, in Lion’s Arch during the festival to purchase your spooky homestead decorations!

Something wicked this way comes! The Wizard’s Vault is bursting with Halloween-themed challenges, pointing you toward all the eerie activities on offer. Collect that astral acclaim and claim your well-earned rewards!

A homestead decorated for Halloween featuring gargoyles, pumpkins, and haunted bells.

Where to Go

Start by checking your in-game mail for a letter from Magister Tassi, which contains an Invitation to the Mad Realm. Use this to travel between the mortal world and the twisted realm of Mad King Thorn.

Lion’s Arch serves as the heart of Halloween festivities in Tyria. You’ll find portals to Lion’s Arch in every major city for players level 35 and above or for anyone who owns a Guild Wars 2 expansion.

For those who can’t access Lion’s Arch directly, fear not! You can still find haunted doors in locations like the Village of Shaemoor or Smokestead. These spooky portals are guarded by Lunatic Boatmasters, who will happily ferry you to the Mad Realm’s horrors. Don’t forget to explore the haunted doors scattered throughout Kessex Hills and Gendarran Fields—trick-or-treating opportunities await!

An assortment of rewards from this years Halloween festival including the Clawing Shadow Plate, Candy Core weapons, and Sanguine weapons.

What to Do

As Halloween looms, the capricious spirit of King Oswald Thorn breaks free to wreak havoc in Tyria while daring adventurers to cross into his Mad Realm.

Lion’s Arch: The city is transformed into a nightmarish vision filled with ghoulish decorations and a haunted atmosphere. Every two hours, Mad King Thorn himself will challenge players to a twisted game—obey his commands (but only when he says “Your Mad King says”) and win keys to unlock his treasures!

Mad King’s Labyrinth: Explore the dark and winding maze of the Mad King’s Labyrinth—battling hordes of twisted creatures, racing your mounts, and trick-or-treating for bags stuffed with ghoulish goodies. Be wary, though—dreadful enemies like the Grand High Viscount of Candy Corn and the terrifying Labyrinthine Horror stalk these shadowy halls.

Mad King’s Clock Tower: For thrill-seekers, the original heart-pounding jumping puzzle returns. Race against the rising miasma below! Or, if you prefer a slower pace, test your skills on the Stopped Clock Tower variant.

Ascent to Madness: Ready for the ultimate showdown? Face Mad King Thorn himself in this spine-chilling dungeon encounter, available to players of all skill levels.

Mad King’s Raceway: Race through creepy courses on your mounts or rent a steed and join time trials or head-to-head races.

Minigames: Speak to a Lunatic Boatmaster to jump into the frenzied chaos of Reaper’s Rumble or the survival horror of Lunatic Inquisition.

A graphic showing all the Shadow of the Mad King rewards for 2024

Rewards

As you face the horrors of the Mad Realm, you’ll be rewarded with trick-or-treat bags full of seasonal delights. Stock up on candy corn, the festival’s primary currency, which can be exchanged for all sorts of spooky goods: miniatures, armor skins, recipes, and more!

For the fashion-forward, don’t miss out on the Clawing Shadow Plate, a reward for completing the annual Halloween Rituals achievement. Plus, if you missed the Clawing Shadow Greaves or Clawing Shadow Gloves from previous years, they’re available for purchase from vendors in exchange for candy corn.

The staff, focus, shield sanguine weapons are bright red and made from crystalized blood

The new Candy Core weapon set awaits those who complete either the Halloween Rituals or Weekly Halloween Festivities achievements. Powered by the essence of candy corn itself, these sinister weapons are sure to make you the envy of every ghoul in Tyria!

Do you dare to open your trick-or-treat bags? You might just find one of three new bloody weapons, including the fearsome Sanguine Shield, Sanguine Staff, and Sanguine Focus.

And don’t forget—new Halloween-themed decorations are also up for grabs, perfect for turning your guild hall or homestead into a haunted haven!

We hope you have a frightfully good time this Halloween season, and be sure to share your most spine-chilling moments with us. Let the madness begin!

Weiterlesen...

Witness Feathered Beauty with the Graceful Bladed Wings Package
15. Oktober 2024 um 16:00 Uhr

Soar through the heavens and check out our fantastic weekly discounts!

Read More

    Graceful Bladed Wings Package

    One legend claims that Dwayna’s holy guards were once ascended harpies; these beautiful wings were modeled after that very tale.

    Regal, armored, and stunning, the Graceful Bladed Wings Package includes Backpack Straps and these three combo items that serve as both back items and gliders:

    • Graceful Bladed Wings Backpack and Glider Combo
    • Graceful Bladed Left Wing Backpack and Glider Combo
    • Graceful Bladed Right Wing Backpack and Glider Combo

    Enjoy the thrill of gliding with one wing or two! This item soars into the Gem Store at a cost of 700 gems.

    a sylvari dressed in deep purple soars with a one wing feathered glider against a backdrop of night, stars, and the moon.

    What’s in Stock

    Starting October 18 and continuing for the next few days, select back slot items will be 20% off, including the Delicate Lace Cape, Trapper’s Fur Cape, Astral Scholar Cape, Dragon’s Watch Cape, Abyss Stalker Cape, and many more. Enter the chilly season with a fashionable, warm cape!

    Returning This Week

    Expand your account with our incredible discounts! From today until October 22, Copper-Fed Salvage-o-Matic, Silver-Fed Salvage-o-Matic, Runecrafter’s Salvage-o-Matic, and Equipment Template Expansions are available at an amazing 20% discount, and Build Template Expansions are available at a sweet 40% off.

  • Available Now in the Gem Store!

    Log into Guild Wars 2 and press 'O' to access the Black Lion Trading Company for these great offers and more!

Weiterlesen...

Amaze Onlookers with Your Smooth Breakdancing Skills
08. Oktober 2024 um 16:00 Uhr

But if you prefer to doze off in a hot spring, we've got the perfect thing for you, too!

Read More

    “/Breakdance” Emote Tome

    Want to bust a move and let loose after a tough day of adventuring? Learn these acrobatic, high-skill moves and impress the onlookers. This new emote tome will teach you how to move like never before! The “/Breakdance” Emote Tome is available for 400 gems.

    A human is breakdancing with his hand planted on the ground and legs up in the air while an asura holding a boombox watches

    Secrets of the Obscure Expedition Contract

    The Secrets of the Obscure Expedition Contract is here! We’ll send out one of our elite Black Lion expedition teams to collect resources for you from Skywatch Archipelago, Amnytas, and Inner Nayos. They’ll also collect rift essence for you. This enterprising item is available for 1,000 gems.

    Black Lion Chest Update: Bright Waters

    Inside each chest, you’re guaranteed to find a redeemable Black Lion Statuette, a Black Lion Material Bag: Janthir Wilds, and two common items. You also have a chance to find something rarer in the fifth slot, including special items, glyphs, and skins from the Dokkaebi Weapon Collection and the Bright Inquisitor Weapon Collection.

    Exclusive Item: Portable Hot Springs Chair

    Soak your aches away with an amazing portable hot spring! Invite a friend and relax anywhere you desire with this little piece of the lowland kodans’ magical, healing waters. The Portable Hot Springs Chair is a new, exclusive drop from Black Lion Chests.

    Two heroes relax in rocky hot spring

    Mystical Beast Weapons Collection

    Invoke the power of nature’s fury with this new collection of spiritual weapon skins—you shall vanquish the wilds with your stout heart and hearty brawn. Each Mystical Beast weapon skin is imbued with the spirit of one of six different beasts and can be obtained in exchange for 1 Black Lion Claim Ticket. Unleash your mystical beast by unsheathing or swapping your weapon!

    Two heroes wield Mystical Beast Weapons which spawn spirit animals when you unsheathe them

    What’s in Stock

    Starting October 11 and continuing for the next few days, select infinite gathering tools will be 20% off, including the Shifting Sands Mining Pick, Infinite Volatile Magic Gathering Tools, Infinite Cosmic Gathering Tools, and many more! Gather everything you need in endless style!

    Returning This Week

    From today until October 15, Black Lion Chest Keys, Transmutation Charges, Total Makeover Kits, Self-Style Hair Kits, and Name Change Contracts are available at an incredible 20% discount. Retouch, remake, and reimagine your characters!

  • Available Now in the Gem Store!

    Log into Guild Wars 2 and press 'O' to access the Black Lion Trading Company for these great offers and more!

Weiterlesen...

Delightful New Fashion Arrives in the Gem Store!
01. Oktober 2024 um 16:00 Uhr

It's still warm enough to enjoy a pretty skirt.

Read More

    Blissful Skirt and Boots Combo

    Combine this beautiful skirt and trendy boots with your favorite armor skins; visiting a friend’s homestead with a new sweet look will feel incredible. The thigh-high socks are formfitting and complete your style with a touch of playful couture—an indispensable piece of fashion for your wardrobe! The Blissful Skirt and Boots Combo is available for 800 gems.

    What’s in Stock

    Starting October 4 and continuing for the next few days, select armor sets and fishing rods will be 20% off, including the Flamekissed Light Armor Skin, Flamewalker Medium Armor Skin, Flamewrath Heavy Armor Skin, Jade Tech Fishing Rod Skin, Golden Dragon Fishing Rod Skin, and many more! Get fishing with your hottest ensemble!

    Returning This Week

    If you want to experience the amazing Living World seasons with a new character, we have the perfect discounts! From today until October 8, Black Lion Instant Level 80 Tickets and Living World seasons are available at a 20% discount. Keep an eye out.

    A male and female character wearing pleated skirts, long socks, and stylish boots.

  • Available Now in the Gem Store!

    Log into Guild Wars 2 and press 'O' to access the Black Lion Trading Company for these great offers and more!

Weiterlesen...